Do you ever have a cleaning challenge that you just can’t solve? Maybe you can’t get your silverware to sparkle. Or, you don’t know the best way to naturally clean granite countertops. You need natural cleaning recipes.

Natural cleaning staples like vinegar, baking soda and lemon can do a lot, but sometimes it’s hard to know the most effective combinations and which ingredients work best. Will lemons clean wooden cutting boards and windows? Or just floors? What should you do when you need to clean the ice machine, and is there a natural alternative to bleach? Becky Rapinchuk (of cleanmama.net) answers these natural cleaning conundrums and more in her book "The Organically Clean Home."

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You’ll find natural cleaning recipes in the book for items you never considered cleaning—but that could probably use it. Her coffee pot cleaner, garden tool cleaning kit and showerhead cleaner come to mind. You’ll also find ways to make specialty products that you thought you could only buy in stores, like electronics wipes, stain sticks and foaming hand soap. (And they’re all natural!)

On top of the 150 natural cleaning recipes in the book, Becky also explains all about essential oils (and how to use them), how to build a cleaning kit and she provides handy cleaning routines and checklists to keep you organized. We chatted with Becky and found out more about this clean mama and what inspired her to write the book.

Interview with author Becky Rapinchuk:

I have so many favorite recipes but my most-used favorite is the Lemon + Clove Nightly Sink Scrub. I use it nightly and love the results and the scent. (Check out the recipe here.)

The book does more than just provide natural cleaning recipes. You explain how to create a cleaning routine that works and you provide cleaning checklists. What inspired you to create the checklists?

I was inspired to create checklists to track my cleaning routine and to help me manage a busy household. I like to break down tasks into manageable steps that can be achieved in minutes. A simple checklist keeps me on track and motivates me on the days I'm not so motivated. I started selling what was working for me in my home and turns out it works wonderfully for others too!

What’s your favorite money-saving tip that you give in the book?

I love using microfiber cloths to clean. They're easy on the environment (they can be washed 300+ times) and they do a great job cleaning up little and big messes. One of my favorite tips is to look for microfiber cloths in the automotive section of your favorite store (like Target or Wal-Mart). You can get a big stack of the cloths for a fraction of the cost of the same cloths in the cleaning aisle.

What are you most proud of about the book?

I'm proud of how easy it is to reference just about any cleaning conundrum. Yes, you can probably get by cleaning your house with a handful of natural cleaning recipes, but what happens when you need to clean your coffee machine or your cabinet doors? What's the best natural recipe and method for that? A quick turn to the table of contents or index will send you to the right place. I love that "The Organically Clean Home" is a handbook for housekeeping and cleaning, and is a great resource for cleaning recipes as well.

What do you think are the most unique natural cleaning recipes in the book?